‘Breaking Bad’ contest winner arrested during drug bust

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‘Breaking Bad’ contest winner arrested during drug bust

Ryan Carroll (PHOTO: Lee County Sheriff’s Office)

SAN CARLOS PARK, Fla. (WBBH) – A twist in a Florida drug bust. One of the men involved in Tuesday’s bust appeared on TV just a few months before – for a very different reason.

Ryan Lee Carroll, 28, is behind bars in relation to a big drug bust in San Carlos Park, Florida. Carroll was interviewed in September after he won a nationwide contest to meet the cast of the hit television show ‘Breaking Bad.’

He spoke to us about why he loved the show so much.

“It’s just so addicting. It’s such a good show. I think its addicting because people can relate to the main character,” said Carroll.

In the show, the main characters make meth.

“That’s crazy if he’s trying to do that here,” said San Carlos Park resident Ruthann Coyne.

Carroll was arrested on felony charges of possession of synthetic narcotics. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of keeping a shop or vehicle for dangerous drugs – much like the characters in ‘Breaking Bad.’

“It is bizarre, I’ll give you that. If it turns out to be true, media certainly influences the way that we live, but I would imagine his dealings would have been before then,” said resident Peter Ryther.

Dozens of deputies conducted a search warrant at Carroll’s home on New Year’s Eve, while neighbors watched.

“I was just shocked, especially here. This is such a good neighborhood,” said Coyne.

The Lee County Sheriff’s office is remaining tight-lipped. However, neighbors say what they saw was just like something you would see on TV.

“It was crazy. There had to be like 15 cop cars,” said one witness, “And they were bringing out box after box of something.”

That something is still unclear.

On Wednesday, the house was quiet. The Sheriff’s office says it will release new details soon.